Tom Norton

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CEDIA 2012
Smaller Booths
Tom Norton  |  Sep 06, 2012  |  0 comments
First impressions on the first day included the absence of some major players (Samsung, Panasonic, and apart from a small off-site event to launch its 4K, 84-inch HDTV, LG) leaving Sony the only heavy hitter in the flat panel business present. Many booths were smaller. Bowers&Wilkins/Classe/Rotel were hardly the only ones to downscale their square footage on the show floor-though in their case they have also set up shop at an off-site hotel.
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Snell Center
Tom Norton  |  Sep 10, 2007  |  1 comments

The new Snell CR70 center speaker ($1750) was so inconspicuously displayed that I nearly missed it. It is said to be a good sonic match for the Snell CR70 floorstanders ($6500/pair). New center channel speakers—hopefully proper three-way designs like this one—are expected next year for other Snell models.

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So Much To See, So Little Time
Tom Norton  |  Sep 10, 2007  |  0 comments

CEDIA 2007 supplied more than its share of surprises. There were more interesting new, free-standing speakers there than I expected, though nowhere near what CES brings to town. The quantity of new electronics was intimidating, as usual, and that will keep us busy for the next few months as we check out the most promising candidates.

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Sonus Faber Elipsa
Tom Norton  |  Jan 11, 2007  |  1 comments

The name may be odd, but the sound from these new Sonus Faber speakers was anything but. It was clean and open, with a beautiful top end from
its dynamic ring radiator driver.

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CEDIA 2012
Sony Adds Home Automation to ES A/V Receivers
Tom Norton  |  Sep 05, 2012  |  2 comments
Sony introduced three new AV receivers. The claim to fame of both the STR-5800ES (130 Watts per channel) and STR-2800ES (100 WPC) is that they may be directly integrated with the popular Control4 home automation system. They may also be used with a variety of other automation systems. The third model, the STR-DA1800, does not have Control4 built-in. All three offer 4K upconversion, full WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplay, and Internet access features.

CEDIA 2012
Sony Also Does Anamorphic
Tom Norton  |  Sep 09, 2012  |  0 comments
The new Sony VPL-HW50 discussed earlier in our report also features anamorphic processing. It’s shown here with a fixed Panamorph anamorphic lens.
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CES 2012
Sony Audio Goes High End Part II
Tom Norton  |  Jan 13, 2012  |  1 comments
Back in never-neverland, Sony introduced the new SS-AR2 speaker (about $20,000/pair) to supplement the larger SS-AR1 ($27,000) introduced last year.
CEDIA 2012
Sony Bows 84" 4K TV
Tom Norton  |  Sep 05, 2012  |  4 comments
Sony’s launched its new XBR-84X900 84-inch diagonal LED edge-lit LCD set at its CEDIA EXPO 2012 press conference. With a native 4K resolution (3840 x 2160), it can display native 4K material at 24Hz or 30Hz, or upscale 2K sources to 4K. With its passive 3D glasses, it can also produce a full 2K 3D resolution to each eye (passive glasses in a 2K 3D set reduce the resolution of a 1920 x 1080 source to 1920 x 540). The set looked spectacular and will be available at selected Sony stores in November for $25,000.

Sony also announced two new flagship XBR-HX950 LCD flat panels: 55-inches ($4500) and 65-inches ($5500). The sets offer full LED backlighting with local dimming and are available now.

4K TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Sony Bravia X93L Mini-LED 4K Google TV Review
Tom Norton  |  Nov 08, 2023  |  3 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Black levels
Superb color
Affordability
Minus
Menu ergonomics
Remote control

THE VERDICT
Even before calibration, this Sony produced superb images. But calibration truly brought out the best from it in both HDR to SDR. Our samples offered slightly less luminance in HDR than expected, but that was quickly forgotten once the lights dimmed and the viewing began.

For several years now OLED has been king of the HDTV hill, offering the best available HDTV performance. This isn't to say that it has been free of issues; no technology is perfect.

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4K TV ReviewsTV ReviewsLCD TV Reviews
Sony Bravia XBR-84X900 3D LCD Ultra HDTV
Tom Norton  |  Apr 05, 2013  |  6 comments

2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $25,000
At A Glance: Stunning resolution • Superb color • Glorious 2D and 3D performance

With 4K-resolution Ultra HD the latest and greatest star in the consumer electronics galaxy, we ink- and pixel-stained wretches of the press were all champing at the bit to lay hands on one. But at a massive 84 inches diagonal, 216 pounds with its floor stand, priced high enough to put you in a nice new car as long as your tastes aren’t too posh, and still limited in availability, Sony’s new 4K flagship made the company understandably reluctant to ship review samples to all the usual suspects.

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